December 2025: The Latest Frauds – Alert System from Kent Police

The ECRC is proud to work closely with local police forces to ensure our members can take full advantage of the free tools and services available to them, including the latest fraud alerts issued by the Kent Police.

One of the most valuable resources is the Kent Fraud Email Alert System (K’FAs), developed by Stephen Kelly, Fraud Prevent and Protect Officer for Kent Police. This system provides weekly updates designed to help individuals and businesses stay informed about current scams and understand how they can protect themselves.

K’FAs reaches thousands of people and organisations across the UK, not just in Kent or the East of England, as many scams have a nationwide impact. The ECRC is committed to sharing Stephen Kelly’s alerts with our members as often as possible, helping you to stay aware of emerging threats and trends affecting both businesses and the wider public.

Click here for further information about fraud and how Kent Police can help.

1)      Boots Fake Email

We’ve been made aware of a new phishing scam in which criminals are impersonating Boots to trick people into handing over personal and financial information. Victims have reporting receiving an email claiming to offer a £25 Boots gift card in return for completing a short survey. The email includes a link, and after completing the survey, users are asked to pay a small fee of £1.95.

Later the same day, victims received phone calls from scammers pretending to be their bank, attempting to obtain sensitive details such as passwords and PINs. This entire process is a scam, designed to steal both money and personal information. A screenshot of the scam email is shown below.

Why These Scams Are Common Right Now

At this time of year, criminals will frequently impersonate well-known brands with attractive offers or gift incentives. Their goal is to tempt you into clicking a link or sharing information before you’ve had time to think about it. Just remember, if an offer seems too good to be true, it usually is.

How to Protect Yourself

• Avoid clicking links in emails you weren’t expecting

• If you’re unsure whether and offer is genuine or not, contact the company using a trusted number, not one provided in the email or text

• Report any suspicious emails by forwarding them to report@phishing.gov.uk

• If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank immediately by calling 159 and report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040

You can find more fraud-prevention advice on the Kent Police website and further useful guidance from the Home Office at Stop! Think Fraud.

2)      Curry’s and Argos Accounts Being Targeted

We’ve received multiple reports from the public that Argos and Curry’s customer accounts are being compromised with fraudulent purchases made without the account holder’s knowledge. This issue is not limited to Kent and appears to be occurring nationwide. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals dominating online shopping, this warning comes at a crucial time.

In many cases involving Curry’s, criminals have used the “buy now, pay later” option, resulting in unsuspecting victims being signed up to finance agreements for items they did not purchase or receive.

For Argos, several reports show that fraudsters have completed purchases using the genuine account holder’s saved payment details which has left victims needing to cancel and replace their bank cards.

What You Should Do Now

If you have an Argos or Curry’s online account, we strongly encourage you to take the following steps as soon as possible:

• Change your account passwords to prevent authorised access

• Remove any saved payment details

• Use strong, secure passwords preferably three random words combined to create a long, hard to guess password

3)      Crypto/Investment Scams

Daily reports are being received with members of the public falling victim to investment scams. With many people currently looking for ways to grow their savings and secure better returns, criminals are taking full advantage. Victims often describe glossy websites and polished social media posts designed to draw people in. Scammers may contact you by phone or email with offers that appear too good to miss, or they may build trust by befriending you on social media and sharing stories of their “successful” investments.

How These Scams Hook Victims

Investment scams can be difficult to spot, especially as criminals become more sophisticated.

• Scammers frequently impersonate public figures such as Martin Lewis, Elon Musk, or Jeremy Clarkson

• With AI-generated voices, images and deepfake videos becoming more advanced, these impersonations are more convincing than ever

• Criminals use pressure tactics or time-limited offers to push victims into making quick decisions

Protect Yourself Before You Invest

Before making any investment:

• Stop and take time to verify the offer. Seek independent financial advice, for example, speak to your bank or a registered financial advisor

• Check the FCA Warning List using ScamSmart which can help you identify unauthorised firms and known fraudulent schemes

Being cautious and carrying out these checks can prevent life-changing financial losses.

4)      New Smishing (Text) Scams

We are seeing a rise in fraudulent text messages claiming to be from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). These messages falsely state that you have received an illegal parking notice and urge you to click a malicious link to pay a fine. These texts are not genuine and the DVSA does not issue parking fines by text message.

How to Spot the DVSA Parking Fine Scam

Look out for the following red flags:

• A text message claiming you have parked illegally and need to pay a fine

• A link urging you to “pay fine now” or “view fine details”

• Threats of additional charges, legal action, or limited-time discounts to pressure you into paying quickly

• Spelling mistakes, unusual wording, or grammatical errors in the message

How to Protect Yourself

• Remember the DVSA will never issue parking fines via text message

• Never click on links in unexpected or suspicious messages

• Do not reply or share personal or banking information

• Check official sources like the DVSA website or your local councils parking page to verify

• Report scam texts by forwarding them to 7726

• Block and delete the number sending the message

• Keep your phone’s security software up to date

If you think you’ve fallen for this or any other scam:

• Contact your bank immediately (you can call 159 to reach your bank securely).

• Report the incident to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040.

5)      Black Friday Scams

Black Friday is always prime time for cybercriminals hiding among the increased legitimate traffic to websites, but shoppers and businesses should stay cautious during the entire Christmas shopping season. Last year, £11.8 million was lost to online shopping fraud between November 2024 and January 2025 alone.

Fraudsters take advantage of the rush for bargains by promoting “too good to be true” deals. Black Friday gives scammers the perfect opportunity to hide their schemes among genuine offers and many will set up fake adverts, bogus websites and social media promotions designed to steal your money or financial information.

Criminals frequently impersonate well-known brands to sell items that don’t exist. While this happens all year round, you’re far more likely to see these scams during the festive shopping season. Be especially cautious if you see:

• Social media adverts offering free or heavily discounted items

• Deals posted by accounts that aren’t verified (no blue tick)

• Pages with limited history, few posts, or unusual engagement patterns

  
  

These are common signs that the account isn’t genuinely linked to the brand it claims to represent.